Merry-go-round



Sept. 17, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct; 5, 1959 M. HAUGMERRY-GO-ROUND Sept. 17, 1963 Filed Oct. v5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept.17, 1963 M. HAUG MERRY-GO-ROUND 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5, 1959United States Patent 3,104,133 1 MERRY-Gfl-RQUND Mathias Hang,Kanalstrasse 1, Memmingen, Bavaria, Germany Filed Get. 5, 1959, Ser. No.344,236 Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 13, 1959 13 Claims.(El. 272-316) The invention relates to a merry-go-round having a towerand a vertically displaceable cage for supporting seat-carriersrotatable about the tower, the plane of r0 tation of the seat-carriersbeing adapted to be inclined about a horizontal axis during theoperation of the merrygo-round.

In the specification of my pending application Serial No. 697,401, nowPatent 2,983,509, filed November 19, 1957, is disclosed a merry-go-roundin which the horizontal axis is positioned at the base of the tower andthe tower itself is tilted about this axis by means of a crossmemberhaving one end attached to a fixed pivot near the ground and the otherend attached to the cage so that during lifting movement, the cagedescribes a vertical circular path about the axis of the cross-member.This lrnown construction requires a very wide and stable base, n orderthat the tower shall remain securely standing even in its inclinedposition. In this connection, it should be remembered that the rotatingmasses are relatively large, since the tower rotates with theseat-carriers. This construction also requires a pivotal mounting and aring mount for supporting the tower on its underframe and also a pivotalmounting for the upper end of the cross-member acting on the cage.

It is the object of the invention to considerably simplify this knownconstruction. According to the invention there is provided amerry-go-round comprising a tower, a ring mount carried by the tower forvertical and tilting movement relative thereto, and a cage rotata-blymounted on the ring mount supporting seat-carriers for rotation aboutthe tower. Thus, with the present invention, it is neither necessary totilt the entire tower, nor is it necessary to rotate the tower with theseat-carriers. Thus in the construction of the present invention it isonl necessary to have a single ring mount and it is possible to make thebearing surface of the tower smaller while still ensuring stability ofthe merry-go-round.

Preferably the ring mount is carried by a frame pivotally mounted on anauxiliary cage which is displaceable in a direction parallel to the axisof the tower, although in a different embodiment the ring mount ismounted on an auxiliary cage which is displaceable along the length ofthe tower and which engages a guide rail having an upper portioninclined relative to the tower axis so that, during lifting movement,the auxiliary cage is pivoted about a horizontal axis by the inclinedportions of the guide rail. In the preferred embodiment controllablemeans are connected between the auxiliary cage and the frame forpivoting the frame about a horizontal axis.

As pointed out, with the construction according to the presentinvention, it is possible to dispense with one of the two ring mountsnecessary with the previously proposed merry-go-rounds. It is, however,also possible rotatably to support the tower by an additional ringmount. With this embodiment of the invention, the inclined axis of theplane of rotation then rotates about the vertical tower axis, thusproducing an additional effect. In this connection, it is expedient thatthe rotational speed of the tower should be considerably less than therotational speed of the cage on its ring mount. The direction ofrotation of the tower and the direction of rotation of the cage can beidentical or opposite. Since the two drives for the tower rotationmovement and the cage rotation movement may be independent of eachother, it is also possible to Patented Sept. 17, 1963 achieve variedeffects by changing the speed and directions of rotation of the towerand cage.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l shows a side view of a merry-go-round with the cage lowered;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but in part section and showingthe merry-go round with the cage in a raised, tilted position;

FIGURE 3 is a side view in part section of another embodiment of themerry-go-round showing the cage in a raised, tilted position;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the merry-go-round shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows in horizontal section a detail of the merry-go-round ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the detail shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of a further embodiment of the rnerry-goaound;

FIGURES "8 and 8a show a horizontal section taken along the lineVIIIVIII of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a vertical section taken along the line IXIX of FIGURE 8a.

The merry-go-round shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 consists essentially of atower 1 having a conical lower portion 1'. In the interior of the toweris a lifting device comprising a piston vertically displaceable in acylinder under the action of fluid pressure which preferably is suppliedin the form of compressed air. The compressed air is supplied by meansof a pipe 30. A piston rod 26, which is shown at the upper end of thetower in the drawing, carries at its upper end a cross-member 28 securedto which are tension rods 27 connected to a driven member or auxiliarycage 2. The auxiliary cage 2 bears, by means of rollers 2 on the surfaceof the tower l.

The auxiliary cage carries two pins 3 at diametrically opposite points.These pins form a horizontal axis about which frame 4 mounted on thepins 3 can be tilted. The frame 4 can be tilted by the action of aworking cylinder 7 extending between pivots 4 and 7'. The frame 4carries a ring mount 5 upon which is mounted a cage 6. The auxiliarycage and frame generally form a supporting device for the cage 6, thelatter being rotatable on the frame 4 by means of ball bearings 5between its ring mount 5 and the frame. The inner surface 35 of the cage6 is conical or funnel-shaped. Secured on the cage 6 is a gear ring 9which meshes with a gear wheel 8' rotatable by a motor 3, the motor 8being mounted on the frame 4 by means of a projection 34.

Provided on the cage 6 is a plurality of tangential pivots 6 upon whichare mounted arms 32 carrying at their outer ends 33' seat-carriers orcars 3-3. Each arm is adapted to be individually controlled from the carmounted on its outer end by means of a piston and cylinder assemblies 31extending between the pivots 6' and 32.

It should be noted that although it is preferred to have the cars 33individually controllable by means of compressed air acting in thecylinders 31, this arrangement of the seat-carriers, arms and piston andcylinder assemblies may be replaced by seat-carriers constructed in someother manner.

The function of the merry-go-hound according to FIGURES l and 2 will beclearly comprehensible. The piston rod 26 in the tower 1 displaces theauxiliary cage 2, and thus the cage 6, along the tower. The frame 4together with the cage 6 can be tilted by means of the assembly 7 andpeople travelling in the individual cars 33 can, be causing operation ofthe asembly 31, pivot the arms 32 out of the position shown in fulllines in FIGURE 2 into the position shown in dot-dash lines. The tower 1can also be rotated manually or by a motor and is supported for suchrotation by the rollers It"; on the substructure 43. In this case theinclined axis of rotation of the seat-carriers is displaced along thesurface of a cone about the vertical axis of the tower. In theconstructional example illustrated in FIGURES 7 to 9, the auxiliary cage20, which bears on the outer surface of the tower by means of rollers20, is movable in the same way as the cake 2 of the embodiment accordingto FIGURES l and 2. Two diametrically opposite journals 22 carry a frame23 upon which are mounted the cage 6 and its associated elements.

Provided on the frame 23 is a projection 42 having, below the journals22, an inwardly-directed arm 41 carrying pins 24' upon which are mountedrollers 24. The rollers 24 engage in guide rails 21 mounted on eitherside of the tower 1. The upper ends of the guide rails 21 are curved.

When the auxiliary cage 20 is displaced along the tower, the rollers 24slide in the guide rails 21 and, due to the curved upper portion of theguide rails 21, the frame 23 with the cage 6 and the associated elementsis, in the upper position of the auxiliary cage 23, pivoted about thejournals 22.

In FIGURE 3, the cage is designated 15, the tangential pivots for thearms 32 are designated 15 and those on the working cylinder 31 aredesignated 15. The cage 15 bears, via a ring mount (not shown) and therollers or balls '39, on auxiliary cage 11 and projecting flange 11. Thecage 15 can be raised by the action of piston and cylinder assemblies 25with the cylinders pivotally mounted at 25' on the lower portion 1 ofthe tower and having their piston rods 26 engage the cage at pivots 28'.In an alternative arrangement two assemblies 25 may be provided insteadof the four shown in the drawmgs.

Mounted on opposite sides of the tower 1 are guide rails 13, the upperportions of which are smoothly curved or bent horizontally in twodirections and inclined to the axis of the tower. The auxiliary cage 11has rollers 12 and 18 mounted on its inner side, the rollers 12 guidingthe auxiliary cage 11 for translational movement along the tower and therollers 18 guiding the auxiliary cage in its movements radially of thetower. The axis of a roller 18 is designated 19 (FIGURE 5). The rollers12 are shown mounted in U-shaped retaining means 40.

Upon actuation of the cylinders 25 the auxiliary cage 11 is pushedupwardly, the rollers 12 and 18 being guided by the guide rails 13. Dueto the curved portion at the upper end of each guide rail, the auxiliarycage 11, with the cage 15 and the remaining devices, adopts a tiltedposition. The shape of the guide rails 13 ensures that the centre ofgravity of the vertically adjustable and rotating elements departs onlyvery slightly from the vertical central axis or" the tower 1 and, whenthe cage is in its highest position, lies on the central axis.

The invention can be varied in various ways. Thus, the lifting devicesfor the vertical movement of the cage or the auxiliary cage can, in thevarious embodiments, be arranged in the interior of the tower to act onthe cage via tension rods, or they can act on the auxiliary cage frombelow to force the latter upwardly, or they can aot directly on theframe 4 and tilt the cage by varying the height to which different sidesof the frame 4 are raised. Both the lifting movement and the tiltingmovement may alternatively be effected by purely mechanical means, thetilting movement, for example, being produced by means of a guidelinkage.

In a further variation of the invention, the cage may be tilted about ahorizontal axis which is laterally offset and does not intersect thevertical central axis of the tower or the axis of rotation of theseat-carriers; this does not, however, imply any change in the essentialcharacter of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A merry-go-round comprising a vertically immovable tower, verticallymovable driving means surrounding the tower, supporting meanssurrounding the tower, means mounting the supporting means on thedriving means for movement thereby along the tower' and for tiltingmovement relative thereto in a vertical plane, at lease one of saidmeans being engageable with the tower for slid able guiding movementthercalong, an annular cage mounted on the supporting means for rotationthereon about the tower, means for rotating the cage relative to thetower, and seating means supported by the cage.

2. A merry-goround as defined by claim 1, in which the at least onemeans engageable with the tower is the driving means and includes asleeve ember slidably mounted on the tower, the supporting meanscomprising an annular member mounted on said sleeve member for said titable movement.

3. A merry-go-round as defined by claim 2, in which the means forrotating the cage is mounted on the annular member.

4. A merry-go-round as defined by claim 2, including movable meansconnected between the sleeve member and annular member for tilting theannular member.

5. A merry-go-round according to claim 4, in which the movable meanscomprises a fluid-pressure operated piston and cylinder assembly, thepiston being connected to one of the members and the cylinder to theother of the members.

6. A merry-go-round comprising a vertically immovable tower, asupporting device surrounding the tower, a plurality of verticallymovable drive means about the tower, means mounting the supportingdevice on the vertically movable means for movement thereby along thetower and for tilta'ble movement relative thereto in a vertical plane, arail on the tower extending generally vertically and having its upperend bent at an angle to the vertical, a follower on the supportingdevice engageable with the rail for tilting the supporting device as itis moved upwardly, a cage mounted on the supporting device for rotationthereon about the tower and for vertical and tiltable movements theewith, and seating means secured to the cage.

7. A merry-go-round as defined by claim 6, in which the seating meansinclude arms extending radially outward from the cage and seats carriedby the outer ends of the arms.

8. A merry-go-round as defined by claim 7, in which the arms arepivotally mounted at their inner ends to the cage and power operatedmeans extending between the cage and arms for raising and lowering thearms.

9. A merry-go-round as defined by claim 6, in which the verticallymovable means supporting the device for tiltable movement includes aplurality of vertically supported piston and cyiindcr assemblies, oneend of each assembly ibeing pivotally mounted to the supported deviceand the other end to the base of the tower, whereby said device iscapable of tilting in a vertical plane upon application of fluidpressure within the cylinder, to move the supporting device vertically.

10. A merry-go-round according to claim 1, in which the at least onemeans engageable with the tower for slidable guiding movement therealongis the supporting means and includes at least one follower securedthereto, a generally vertically extending guide rail on the tower withwhich the follower engages, said rail having at least one portionthereof bent at an angle to the vertical, whereby vertical movements ofthe supporting means by the driving means causes tilting movements ofthe supporting means.

11. A mcrry-go-round as defined by claim 1, in which the means forrotating the cage is mounted on the supporting means for vertical andtiltable movements therewith.

12. A merrygo-1'ound according to claim 1, including a fixed generallyvertically extending guide rail on the tower having a portion thereofbent at an angle to the vertical, the said at least one means includinga follower secured to the supporting means engageable with the guiderail for tilting the supporting means when the follower moves throughthe bent portion during vertical reciprocation of the supporting means.

13. A merry-go-round according to claim 12, in which the follower ismounted on the supporting means at its lowermost end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS935,239 Schmidt Sept. 28, 1909 1,559,476 Troike Oct. 27, 1925 2,274,956Eyerly Mar. 3, 1942 2,468,893 Orance May 3, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 319,267Switzerland Mar. 30, 1957

1. A MERRY-GO-ROUND COMPRISING A VERTICALLY IMMOVABLE TOWER, VERTICALLY MOVABLE DRIVING MEANS SURROUNDING THE TOWER, SUPPORTING MEANS SURROUNDING THE TOWER, MEANS MOUNTING THE SUPPORTING MEANS ON THE DRIVING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREBY ALONG THE TOWER AND FOR TILTING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO IN A VERTICAL PLANE, AT LEASE ONE OF SAID MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE TOWER FOR SLIDABLE GUIDING MOVEMENT THEREALONG, AN ANNULAR CAGE MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREON 